This is my very first fanfic! So please be nice… English is not my native language and I don't have a beta reader, so if there are spelling or grammar mistakes… I'm sorry! But if you want to apply for the job as my beta reader… Be my guest!

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own the characters of "Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman"… One Beth Sullivan does… But I do own the character of Jonas "John" Kerrigan!

Rating: I don't know anything about these ratings, but let's say T or PG-13. Just to be safe...

Warnings: Nothing graphic, but there are references to child abuse! Oh, and I really suck at the towns geography. So I apologize to all the fans who do know exactly what Colorado Springs looks like and where which building is standing… Because I really don't, so I made up some things… So maybe this story is slightly AU… : )

Summary: A stranger visits Colorado Springs. Not everyone is happy to see him…

Chapter 1

It was a beautiful day in Colorado Springs, which was quite unusual for the time of year. Winter was approaching, but as the sun brightly shined it was almost like a late summer's day. Many of the citizens of Colorado Springs were outside enjoying the beautiful weather as much as they could. So was Dr. Mike. She sat on a chair in front of her clinic and watched everyone go by. Occasionally someone walked up to her for a chat or for some medical advice. As she was left alone again she closed her eyes and inhaled the scent that the day had brought and she relaxed in her chair. She felt at peace.

"Ma, I'm goin' to school! Later ma!" Brian yelled as he rushed by Dr. Mike. "Oh! Is it school time already then?" she asked, slightly annoyed that her rest had been disturbed. Then she smiled. Lately Brian had been so eager to go to school. Yesterday she had figured out why. There was a new girl at school! She was Brian's age and sat next to him in class. Yesterday the teacher had asked Dr. Mike if something was the matter with him. He paid no attention in class anymore and seemed to be lost in thought almost the whole time. Dr. Mike had confronted Brian with it, but he said nothing was wrong. Then Colleen had just blurted out that there was a new girl at school and Brian had a crush on her. Brian had looked angry at his sister and had run to his room. Later that night he told his mother that it was true. That she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen! Except for Dr. Mike of course, but then again, she wasn't a girl… she was a lady.

"Pay attention in school Brian!" she called after him, "You might learn something…" She said softly and smiled once again. She saw Brian giving her a wave before he turned the corner. Dr. Mike sighed and looked around. She hadn't had any patients for over a week and was pretty much out of work. In the last few days she had already cleaned the clinic, went over her medical supply and ordered what she needed and went to the reservation twice with Sully to take a look at the Cheyennes. She had also read some medical books to improve her skills and expand her knowledge. With all of these things done she really didn't know how to keep herself busy.

As she sat in her chair on the porch of her clinic, she saw the stagecoach stopping in front of The Mercantile. Everyone was always interested to see who was on it, and today was no different. The vehicle got curious looks from all around. Even Dr. Mike couldn't keep her eyes of it. Nothing much ever happened in Colorado Springs, so the arrival of the stagecoach always was a big attraction to the townsfolk. Even Dr. Mike couldn't help but feel a little curious about who would be on the stagecoach this time. Would it be someone she knew? Or would it be some stranger? Maybe there were immigrants on it. Oh, that would stir things up in town, she thought. She really hated the way most citizens thought about immigrants. She could already feel the anger building inside of her just thinking about it.

Everyone watched the people getting out of the stagecoach and watched them carefully. As soon as everyone saw that there were no immigrants on it and not someone they knew, they turned around and got back to whatever they were doing.

As Dr. Mike had nothing better to do she studied the people who had just arrived to Colorado Springs. There was a man and a woman, who were obviously a couple. They looked very much in love and Dr. Mike almost felt a stab of jealousy going through her body. Her relationship with Sully was going up and down, and right now she had a feeling that they were experiencing a 'down' in their relationship. Why couldn't things just go right between her and Sully? She loved him and she knew he loved her. But they just didn't seem to be able to make things work. Well, maybe things will get better again, she thought.

As she continued watching the other passengers of the stagecoach she noticed a man. It was an elder man in his late fifties and definitely looked like he came from the city. Dr. Mike new a man from the city when she saw one. After all, she had lived in Boston for the biggest part of her life. The way he walked and the way he dressed, his body language… Definitely a man from the city. She took in his appearance and thought that he was quite good looking for his age. He was tall, lean and muscular. Then he disappeared from her sight…

After lunch Dr. Mike's clinic got a little more busier. Some people came over who apparently had catched a cold, which was no surprise considering the weather they had had the last few weeks. As Dr. Mike stepped outside to let her last patients out, she saw the older man that had arrived with the stagecoach earlier, approaching her.

"Good day Ma'am," he said as he took his hat from his head. "Good afternoon sir," Dr. Mike replied kindly, "Can I help you?"

"Indeed you can Ma'am", the man said, "I heard you are the doctor around here?"

"Yes I am. I'm Dr. Michaela Quinn, but everyone here calls me Dr. Mike." She extended her hand to him and he shook it gently. His grip was firm, but gentle. "I'm John Kerrigan, Miss Quinn. But you may call me John. Mr. Kerrigan makes me feel so old," he said with a smile. Dr. Mike smiled back at him. She looked into his twinkling brown eyes. Now that she was able to look at him closely she saw that the man had a great charisma. He looked like he had a strong personality; determined, independent and self-confident. And because his hair hadn't turned completely grey, he didn't look THAT old. Besides that, he was also charming! Get a grip, she thought, the man is old enough to be your father!

"What can I help you with?" she asked him.

"Well, I think I've catched a little cold, just like everyone else around here. With the cold weather and all lately… I suppose there is no way of not catching it." He grinned and Dr. Mike couldn't help but to smile back at him.

"Well, I do have something for you. It's a special kind of tea which should help against the coughing. It works very quickly." She handed him a small box. "Thank you Miss Quinn," he said. " Oh please just call me Dr. Mike! Everybody else does," she said to him. "Well, thank you… Dr. Mike," he said, flashing her a charming smile. Dr. Mike blushed, feeling her cheeks burn.

"Well, I have to go again," he said, "I haven't seen anything of this town yet, so I think I am going to make a little tour. I'm sure we'll see each other again Dr. Mike. It was a pleasure to meet you!"

"It was a pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Kerrigan… Sorry… John," she smiled shyly at him, wondering what on earth was going on with her! John put his hat back on en nodded to her as he left the clinic. Dr. Mike felt her heart pounding wildly in her chest. My God, what is going on with me? He was just a nice man, nothing more! She continued to stare at him as he walked further away, and eventually disappeared from her sight.

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From a distance someone had seen the confrontation between Dr. Mike and John Kerrigan. A pair of steel blue eyes followed the older man who was walking away from Dr. Mike's clinic back to the town's only hotel. Feelings of hate, anger and even fear welled up inside of him. He never thought, not in a million years, that he would see this man again… John Kerrigan…

TBC

R&R please!